While not everyone can be a 'Lily Allen' or a 'David Beckham', the survey revealed that 12 per cent of the country have achieved their childhood goal and are doing the job they dreamed of doing as a child.

However the survey also revealed that almost three quarters of the population (73 per cent) had different career goals now to those they had when they were young; with just over half (56 per cent) admitting that their original goals didn't seem realistic now they had become adults.

Interestingly the survey revealed nearly half of respondents (46 per cent) would consider training or working towards a new qualification in order to achieve their career dreams.

Many people were also considering careers in fields they may not have chosen in the past; for example almost a fifth of respondents said they would consider a career in the public and third sectors (17 per cent), leaving the financial industry polling at the bottom of the ‘dream job' wish list (9 per cent).

Jon Gamble, the LSC's Director for Adults and Lifelong Learning, says: "Having career goals and aspirations are so important - not only for our sense of job satisfaction, but also for achieving a better life balance. In the 21st century workplace it's increasingly likely that we will move from one industry to another and for our career ambitions to change accordingly.

It's interesting the marked difference in these so called "dream jobs" between boys and girls. A Doctor is clearly a far noble profession than a footballer though it's totally understandable that this a job a young boy would want.